The Falcons have not been able to curb their penalties.
The problem began in the exhibition season and has continued through eight regular-season games.
The Falcons committed 27 penalties for 252 yards in four exhibition games. Through the first half of the season they have committed 52 penalties for 447 yards and are on pace for 104 penalties.
Last week, Steven Jackson’s first rushing touchdown with the Falcons was erased by a holding penalty. Also, there was the alignment penalty by five-year veteran Harry Douglas.
“The alignment penalty, there is just no reason for that with veteran players,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said.
Koetter noted that because of injuries, Douglas is playing three different receiver positions.
“He hasn’t always been in that role,” Koetter said. “Unfortunately, he misaligned, and that’s just something that we should have caught.”
On four different third-down plays, the Falcons’ defense committed penalties that resulted in Carolina first downs. One was for having 12 men on the field with the Panthers holding a 17-10 lead.
The Falcons set an NFL record in 2012 for the fewest accepted penalties during a 16-game season. They were penalized 55 times, breaking the mark of 57 set by the 2008 New England Patriots.
In 2012, the Falcons also set the league record for fewest penalty yards (415) in a 16-game season. The 2007 Seattle Seahawks (428 yards) held the previous mark.
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